Ecchinswell and Nuthanger Farm

The school house, Ecchinswell

A nice Sunday morning walk. This begins in the village of Ecchinswell, heads south and quite quickly offers lovely views towards the famous Watership Down and thereafter towards Highclere Castle, by the Victorian architect Sir Charles Barry, seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. It then skirts the Sydmonton estate (Lord Lloyd-Webber) and (for the shorter version of the walk) cuts through some nice woodland to return to the start. Four miles (the longer walk is five miles).

View towards Highclere Castle

Woodland path

Rating: three stars.

From: Rambling for Pleasure: Kennet Valley and Watership Down by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers’ Association Group.

Maps: Explorer 158 (Newbury and Hungerford) and 144 (Basingstoke)


Sightings

Deer are quite common around here and we saw this specimen on the edge of a field, waiting patiently for some action.

Wasing Church and Hyde End

The almshouse gateway, Brimpton

The walk begins by the excellent Pineapple pub on the B3051 at Brimpton Common - the ideal place for a nice pub lunch afterwards. You head north through Wasing Wood, cross the mighty Enborne and reach the village of Brimpton which has a nice church and the splendid gateway to the Victorian St Peter's almshouses. You then head south via Hyde End to Ashford Hill and then return to Brimpton Common. An easy 6 1/2 miles.

Looking south from Brimpton

Rating: three stars.

From: Rambling for Pleasure: Kennet Valley and Watership Down by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers’ Association Group.

Map: Explorer 159 (Reading, Wokingham & Pangbourne).

Arborfield (Carter's Hill and Barkham Brook) 2

Heather

We've done this walk many times before - it's not far away, quick to complete, but also varied and always enjoyable. Ideal when you want to get out but time is short. Here is a fuller description.

Today's key feature was this wonderful heather by the golf course.